Flashback: The Day Riley Was Born (Oct. 17, 2001)

It was a beautiful, chilly fall day. Ryan and I, my parents, my brother and sis-in-law got to the hospital around 4:30 a.m. for my C-section. Baby was breech and wouldn’t turn because I was a bit low on the amniotic fluid. We checked in and got settled in L&D. We all peed (nervous, anyone?), and I changed into the lovely blue gown.

After trying to get the IV in and missing, the nurse finally had to stick the darn thing in my right hand. Then the “shave team” (as Ryan called them) did its job. They took me back to the OR about 6:45; Ryan and Momma came with me. Daddy, Michael, Robin and my aunt Sherri were in the waiting room.

Even while he was working the video camera, Ryan comforted me and was a huge help. Of course, Momma was right there, as always. Both of them were in awe as Dr. Shannon and Dr. Spangler went to work at 7 a.m. “OK, you’ll feel some pressure and some tugging.” Eight minutes later, our baby was born. “OK, here’s the bottom. We have a girl!”

Ryan said the first thing he saw after she was born was the sunrise. It was a gorgeous day.

The whole thing seemed to fly by; I definitely hated having my arms strapped down. When I saw her, I cried and said, “She’s beautiful.”

Momma asked, “What’s her name?”

Ryan and I both said, “Riley Ann.”

Because of the spinal and the “goofy juice,” I was so out of it that I wasn’t able to hold Riley until 1 p.m. I was freezing and shaking so badly; it was miserable. Everyone but me got to hold her. But once I got her in my arms, all was right.

She was born on Wednesday, and we went home on Saturday, not knowing what a journey it would end up being.